Kick long and chase hard, key to victory

IT could more closely resemble a game of rugby union rather than league as the Cowboys plot a unique plan to overcome a red-hot Sharks outfit.

The Sharks handed the Cowboys their biggest shellacking this season in Round 4 when they beat North Queensland by 38 points in Wollongong.

On that night Connor Tracey and Will Kennedy scored doubles, exposing the Cowboys’ flimsy right-edge defence which came under fire from Manly last weekend.

But Payten believes the Sharks have firepower right across the field and when they are in the attacking zone, they go to the next level.

It is why the Cowboys coach believes field position will be the crucial battle at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“Inside our own 40 when they are attacking our half, they all grow a foot taller and they run a bit harder. They prefer to play down our end rather than the other end of the park,” he said.

“We need to get our game right and turn them around as much as we can and limit their opportunities in our half.

“We have put a bit of focus on their halves, their back five getting their sets rolling and they throw a lot of shape and different variations close to our tryline. Their hooker (Blayke Brailey) is also a good, smart player so we are going to have to be good across the park.”

Payten has had his players working the tackling bags all week, while they have also received a boost on the defensive end with the return of Mitch Dunn on the right edge.

The coach said he had been particularly impressed by the sharpness of his side’s work on the training paddock.

“We did a bit of tackling, and their intent and attention to detail and the way they were dialled in to the session gave us some confidence. It has been solid,” Payten said.

“They were pretty sharp (in the captain’s run). Training is training, it gives us some sort of confidence, but it is what happens when that first whistle goes and how we respond when we are under a bit of adversity in the 80 minutes.”